1. Within the confinements of my little glass fishbowl, I am only able to swim until I reach the walls
of my home, a home that is no more than five inches in circumference. Although my home is quite small,
I am still somewhat pleased within the serenity of my clear castle that rests within a world of unknown. I
can see the humans, some I recognize to be my owners, and the others are merely friendly faces that
seem to blur by as the day stretch on. Happiness emanates from them like the sunshine that seeps
through the vast floor to ceiling window that I so frequently bask in. Sometimes, I feel as though I am
intruding in their personal lives, for I am but an innocent bystander kept within a clear tank, left only to
perceive the world in which I am surrounded by. But I enjoy watching in silence, swimming excitedly
when the humans are talking animatedly and strumming with joy. I find comfort in my home within their
home.
One day when the sun was high in the sky, and I was swimming back and forth enjoying the new
warmth of the water, I caught a glimpse of myself upon the glass. I knew it was only my reflection again,
but I could not deny the disappointment that was piling up within in the pit of my stomach as I realized
that it had only ever been myself in this clear wonderland. It was becoming more frequent, this feeling
of loneliness that hit me like a brick wall every time I saw my reflection. I realized that it was friendship
that I was seeking, a companion, someone I could race and swim with from morning until night. As if my
human owners had read my mind, I watched as the little girl, the one who had selected me whenever I
was living within the Pet Store, placed a larger fishbowl, containing four other fish, beside me.
The new fishbowl was much larger than mine, but then I suppose it had to be in order to hold
the great quantity of fish. My new fish mates slightly resembled me, but they had features that were
much more radiant than mine. Two were a deep orange with scales that glimmered green and blue in
the sunlight. Another was the brightest of yellows, as if it were kissed by the sunshine itself. The last fish
was a shade that existed right in between the other two, a lovely yellow-orange that shimmered slightly
as it swam through the water. They were all so beautiful, and I could not help but just to watch them. I

2. envied them for their beauty and their grace, and I also envied them for their familiarity with each
other. I could tell that the girl that had once selected me, had not only selected them also,but had
selected them as a group because she too had obviously noticed their friendship. Children were always
good with things like that.
As I was floating there within my tank, the other fish eventually took notice of me. The
expression within their eyes began to dim as they took in my appearance and my surroundings. It was
pity that now took the place of the excitement in their gaze. They felt sorry for me. They didn’t even
know me and already knew more about me than anyone. It was as if they could not only see right into
my home that I now wish was not clear, and into my very soul. Their scrutiny made me uncomfortable, I
swam from side to side trying to shake off the feeling of their eyes resting upon me. After a few more
moments, the other fish went on about their own business and began swimming wildly, weaving around
each other like they hadn’t a care in the world. I wanted so badly to be a part of that.
The loneliness affected me in ways that I hated myself for. I began to think badly of my owners
and their decision to keep me by myself, especially while the other tank beside me contained four fish
who were having the time of their lives. Why wasn’t I good enough to join their tank? I had been within
this unknown world longer that they had, I felt as though I had the right to be included within their fun. I
decided at that very moment that if I wasn’t going to be placed in the tank with the others by my owner,
then I was going to have to take matters into my own hands.
I began swimming harder and harder as the days went on. I was trying to strengthen my fins and
my tail so that I could make an attempt to jump from my tank to the next. Our bowls were so close that
they were nearly touching! I knew that if I could find a way to harness every bit of the energy that I had,
I could make the jump that would dictate the rest of my life. By the look of the other fishes’ faces, I
could tell that they knew what my intentions were as well. They were swimming excitedly, as if they
were cheering me on.

3. After practicing again and again, day after day, I knew that this was it. I was ready, and it was
now or never. I watched as they cleared a little bit of room as they waited for my arrival. I swam down
to the bottom corner of my home, and began to swim as fast as I possibly could in a diagonal direction
toward the surface of my tank. As I broke through the water and the air hit my skin, I could feel the
adrenaline coursing through my body. The air was dry, it began to burn the outer surface of my face and
tail. I was having a difficult time catching my breath as I flew through the air, but I had never felt more
alive than I did at that very moment. My fins were throbbing with excitement, it felt as if I was flying.
Finally I caught a glimpse of the tank in which I was trying to reach, and it was then that I
realized I had no chance. The tank seemed miles away now that I was above the water, and I was never
going to make it, but surprisingly, I wasn’t sad about the outcome. In one swift thud, I landed hard
against the counter top. My side was burning from the impact, but not nearly as bad as my body was
burning from the inability to breathe.
As I lay there, I saw the other fish looking at me with concern. They knew that I wasn’t going to
last much longer and their gazes pleaded with the sincerity of a true friend. This thought brought me
peace. I wasn’t going to die alone after all, I had them close by, comforting me as the world around me
began to grow dim. My chest wasn’t aching anymore. I could feel my body becoming weightless as the
pain of the dry air began to slip away. I took one last look at the tank and the fish in it, and I smiled as
the light within my life faded to black. I died that day, making a jump that I now know was an
inconceivable and ludicrous feat. But in that jump, I had felt more alive than I ever had, and in my last
moments, I had never felt more at peace with myself and the fish beside me. Even though we were not
granted the chance to get to know each other, they acted in friendship in the very end, and for that I am
grateful.